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One Year Later
Since Amy's daughter, Ruby-May, died in a terrible accident, her family have been beset by grief. One year later, the family decide to go on holiday to mend their wounds. An idyllic island in Italy seems the perfect place for them to heal and repair their relationships with one another. But no sooner have they arrived than they discover nothing on this remote island is quite as it seems. And with the anniversary of the little girl's death looming, it becomes clear that at least one person in the family is hiding a shocking secret. As things start to go rapidly wrong, Amy begins to question whether everyone will make it home.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2019
10 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Sanjida Kay
8 books115 followersSanjida Kay is the author of psychological thrillers, 'One Year Later', 'My Mother's Secret', 'The Stolen Child' and 'Bone by Bone', which was longlisted for a CWA Steel Dagger. She's an Amazon rising star, and is published by Corvus Books. She has two short thrillers published in anthologies - 'The Beautiful Game', in 'The Perfect Crime' (which won a CWA Short Story Dagger), edited by Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski, published by Harper Collins, and 'The Divide' in 'The Book of Bristol' edited by Heather Marks and Joe Melia, published by Comma Press. Sanjida lives in Somerset with her husband and her daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 8, 2019
Having read “The Stolen Child” which I loved, I was over the moon to get this book and desperate to start reading ASAP.
Amy and Matt tragically lost their three year old daughter Ruby in an accident a year ago. The whole family are struggling to cope and decide to all go to Italy for a holiday when it is the one year anniversary of her death.
The story is told from Nick and Amy’s prospective, you soon realise that this family is keeping secrets from each other.
A gripping psychological thriller that delves into loss, secrets and betrayal. There are several twists along the way and just when you think you know what the ending will be,it very cleverly goes in a different direction.
A thought provoking book. If you knew a secret that could blow you’re family apart, should you keep that secret? I’m still deciding!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Amy and Matt tragically lost their three year old daughter Ruby in an accident a year ago. The whole family are struggling to cope and decide to all go to Italy for a holiday when it is the one year anniversary of her death.
The story is told from Nick and Amy’s prospective, you soon realise that this family is keeping secrets from each other.
A gripping psychological thriller that delves into loss, secrets and betrayal. There are several twists along the way and just when you think you know what the ending will be,it very cleverly goes in a different direction.
A thought provoking book. If you knew a secret that could blow you’re family apart, should you keep that secret? I’m still deciding!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
June 10, 2019
Amy's daughter died in an accident the day before her third birthday.
One year later the family decide to go to Italy on holiday together to try and get over this terrible tragedy.
Things don't go to plan and Amy starts to believe that not everyone is telling the truth of what actually happened on the day her daughter died.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
One year later the family decide to go to Italy on holiday together to try and get over this terrible tragedy.
Things don't go to plan and Amy starts to believe that not everyone is telling the truth of what actually happened on the day her daughter died.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2019
This was a exciting book to read from start to finish. It had me gripped all the way through. At times I was thinking one person was guilty then I changed it to someone else but, at the very end of the book I discovered I was completely wrong.
I was so impressed with this author that I got another of her books out of my local library.
I am going to look out for more of her books in future.
I was so impressed with this author that I got another of her books out of my local library.
I am going to look out for more of her books in future.
September 1, 2019
Review nearer to publication
January 16, 2022
A slow start but soon picked up!
August 28, 2019
One Year Later was terrific, a thriller with strong family drama elements, an emotionally charged inciting event and a highly intriguing cast of characters.
As usual with this author it was a right old page turner, beautifully written with many layers. As we go between past and present many themes are explored – love, loss, the vagaries of memory and the differing ways people view their familial ties.
Secrets are gradually revealed, grief in all its forms is palpable throughout and Sanjida Kay makes her characters live and breathe on the page. Unpredictable with an edgy, melancholy feel to it One Year Later was an excellent read first page to last.
Recommended.
As usual with this author it was a right old page turner, beautifully written with many layers. As we go between past and present many themes are explored – love, loss, the vagaries of memory and the differing ways people view their familial ties.
Secrets are gradually revealed, grief in all its forms is palpable throughout and Sanjida Kay makes her characters live and breathe on the page. Unpredictable with an edgy, melancholy feel to it One Year Later was an excellent read first page to last.
Recommended.
August 11, 2019
"One Year Later" was a fabulous read that had me totally gripped from the start. With a fantastic plot-line and brilliant characters, this was a superb and emotionally moving thriller/mystery that kept me guessing throughout.
I loved Sanjida Kay’s evocative, descriptive prose, from Somerset to Italy and I could feel the heat of summer which helped to create and build the atmosphere brilliantly.
This amazing twisty tale of family, love, loyalty and heartbreak by new-to-me author Sanjida Kay should certainly not be missed. A magnificent read and well worth five stars!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Corvus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
I loved Sanjida Kay’s evocative, descriptive prose, from Somerset to Italy and I could feel the heat of summer which helped to create and build the atmosphere brilliantly.
This amazing twisty tale of family, love, loyalty and heartbreak by new-to-me author Sanjida Kay should certainly not be missed. A magnificent read and well worth five stars!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Corvus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion
August 11, 2019
Another utterly addictive read from Sanjida Kay! One Year Later combines complex family relationships and characters with an intriguing 'whodunnit' premise, to create a really enjoyable - but at times emotional - read.
I loved the sense of mystery that is woven throughout the book; one year after the accident that claimed toddler Ruby-May, Amy and her husband Matt go away on holiday with Amy's family, who themselves are an interesting bunch of people. There's a lot of clashes and fraught relationships, and things get very tense very quickly! Add into the mix some very raw feelings about Ruby-May's death concerning Amy's sister and father, and there's bound to be fireworks on this holiday, and the main one actually comes quite late in the book.
The majority of the story explores whether certain people may have been lying about their part in the death, through clues scattered throughout the plot and Amy's brother Nick's mounting suspicions. I loved the way the developments are slowly teased out for the reader to piece together along with Nick, and the dual timeframes - one focusing on the present day and one taking the reader back to a year ago - means extra information is slowly reassembled, making Nick believe that perhaps everything wasn't quite as his sister Beth described.
The characters all felt really convincing, especially in the way that none of them are just classed as 'good' or 'bad' - for example, Amy's father, who seemed to have the biggest part to play in Ruby-May's death, has parts where I felt so sorry for him I could have cried, and others where I felt quite the opposite! Similarly, Amy's sister Beth presents quite a mixed bag, in terms of her culpability, and Amy's husband Matt can be downright rude and unlikable - but then I was all to aware that he had lost a child, one of the worst things a parent can go through, surely?
I found myself completely gripped by the book's twists, and Sanjida Kay's beautiul writing transported me to that beautiful Italian island along with the family. The juxtaposition between sunshine-filled island life and what happens to one member of the family during that holiday creates an eerie atmosphere which only adds to the suspense.
I absolutely loved One Year Later - for me it strikes just the right balance between mystery and drama without becoming unbelievable. With convincing characters and an intriguing plot, this is a great new release from Sanjida Kay, and lives up to the very high standard of her first three novels!
I loved the sense of mystery that is woven throughout the book; one year after the accident that claimed toddler Ruby-May, Amy and her husband Matt go away on holiday with Amy's family, who themselves are an interesting bunch of people. There's a lot of clashes and fraught relationships, and things get very tense very quickly! Add into the mix some very raw feelings about Ruby-May's death concerning Amy's sister and father, and there's bound to be fireworks on this holiday, and the main one actually comes quite late in the book.
The majority of the story explores whether certain people may have been lying about their part in the death, through clues scattered throughout the plot and Amy's brother Nick's mounting suspicions. I loved the way the developments are slowly teased out for the reader to piece together along with Nick, and the dual timeframes - one focusing on the present day and one taking the reader back to a year ago - means extra information is slowly reassembled, making Nick believe that perhaps everything wasn't quite as his sister Beth described.
The characters all felt really convincing, especially in the way that none of them are just classed as 'good' or 'bad' - for example, Amy's father, who seemed to have the biggest part to play in Ruby-May's death, has parts where I felt so sorry for him I could have cried, and others where I felt quite the opposite! Similarly, Amy's sister Beth presents quite a mixed bag, in terms of her culpability, and Amy's husband Matt can be downright rude and unlikable - but then I was all to aware that he had lost a child, one of the worst things a parent can go through, surely?
I found myself completely gripped by the book's twists, and Sanjida Kay's beautiul writing transported me to that beautiful Italian island along with the family. The juxtaposition between sunshine-filled island life and what happens to one member of the family during that holiday creates an eerie atmosphere which only adds to the suspense.
I absolutely loved One Year Later - for me it strikes just the right balance between mystery and drama without becoming unbelievable. With convincing characters and an intriguing plot, this is a great new release from Sanjida Kay, and lives up to the very high standard of her first three novels!
August 6, 2019
I love Sanjida Kay’s writing and this book combines her beautifully stylish and descriptive prose with a truly compelling storyline. If you love plots involving unreliable narrators and dysfunctional families then you will adore One Year Later. It’s a slow burner that builds the tension gradually until the discovery of a shocking betrayal and I was completely gripped by every single word.
There are multiple narrators telling this story from very different perspectives. It’s the story of a family ripped apart by the death of a 3 year old child. One summer Ruby-May has a terrible accident and dies. Her mother Amy lies the blame firmly at the feet of the family member who was supposed to be babysitting her but it seems as though everything wasn’t quite as clear cut as people thought. So with the anniversary of her death approaching, the family decides on an Italian getaway to spend the day together. But the discovery of another body at the foot of some cliffs and a villa full of people hiding secrets means that this holiday is one that is destined to end in tragedy.
The Italian setting was cleverly created to add an atmospheric edge to this family drama. I could almost feel the oppression from the heat and the pent up emotions of all who were staying in the stunning villa. It was impossible to know who to trust and why there were still so many secrets surrounding the day that Ruby-May died. If I had been Amy then the last thing I would have wanted to do would be to spend the day with the same cast of characters who were there at the “scene of the crime” originally! But she knows that something isn’t quite right so it was fascinating to watch her work through her emotions, determined to find the truth once and for all. Sanjida Kay has played to her strengths here and created a psychological thriller full of depth with strong female characters (and more unusually a very involved main male protagonist) and a visually compelling narrative. It probably dipped a little in the middle for me but I did become completely involved in this family and so it was easy to stay on track as I needed to find out the truth and gain closure as any parent would.
Intriguing, claustrophobic and compelling I throughly enjoyed One Year Later and would definitely recommend it as an addictive read this summer.
There are multiple narrators telling this story from very different perspectives. It’s the story of a family ripped apart by the death of a 3 year old child. One summer Ruby-May has a terrible accident and dies. Her mother Amy lies the blame firmly at the feet of the family member who was supposed to be babysitting her but it seems as though everything wasn’t quite as clear cut as people thought. So with the anniversary of her death approaching, the family decides on an Italian getaway to spend the day together. But the discovery of another body at the foot of some cliffs and a villa full of people hiding secrets means that this holiday is one that is destined to end in tragedy.
The Italian setting was cleverly created to add an atmospheric edge to this family drama. I could almost feel the oppression from the heat and the pent up emotions of all who were staying in the stunning villa. It was impossible to know who to trust and why there were still so many secrets surrounding the day that Ruby-May died. If I had been Amy then the last thing I would have wanted to do would be to spend the day with the same cast of characters who were there at the “scene of the crime” originally! But she knows that something isn’t quite right so it was fascinating to watch her work through her emotions, determined to find the truth once and for all. Sanjida Kay has played to her strengths here and created a psychological thriller full of depth with strong female characters (and more unusually a very involved main male protagonist) and a visually compelling narrative. It probably dipped a little in the middle for me but I did become completely involved in this family and so it was easy to stay on track as I needed to find out the truth and gain closure as any parent would.
Intriguing, claustrophobic and compelling I throughly enjoyed One Year Later and would definitely recommend it as an addictive read this summer.
August 1, 2019
This ticks so many boxes for me in a psychological thriller. Unreliable narrators tick, strange goings on tick, dysfunctional family tick.
The prologue really sets the scene and once you’ve finished the book I suggest you go back and re read it as it will make you view things differently.
Narrated by Amy and her brother Nick you get to see two different perspectives and this really makes you question everything. Varying recollections throughout make you wonder who you can trust, are any of them being truthful?
Sanjida writes relationships with brutal honesty, families are never perfect and she really gets into the nitty gritty of the emotional damage families can cause each other. After all who knows you better than your family, which buttons to press , how to inflict the most pain. This book really captures that fragility and how a horrific event can either bring you closer or rip you apart.
Set in both Somerset in the past and an Italian island in the present you have settings that really influence the story and are almost characters themselves.
This has serious Agatha Christie vibes with the Somerset property, a dysfunctional family, a good mystery and an amateur sleuth determined to find out the truth.
The prologue really sets the scene and once you’ve finished the book I suggest you go back and re read it as it will make you view things differently.
Narrated by Amy and her brother Nick you get to see two different perspectives and this really makes you question everything. Varying recollections throughout make you wonder who you can trust, are any of them being truthful?
Sanjida writes relationships with brutal honesty, families are never perfect and she really gets into the nitty gritty of the emotional damage families can cause each other. After all who knows you better than your family, which buttons to press , how to inflict the most pain. This book really captures that fragility and how a horrific event can either bring you closer or rip you apart.
Set in both Somerset in the past and an Italian island in the present you have settings that really influence the story and are almost characters themselves.
This has serious Agatha Christie vibes with the Somerset property, a dysfunctional family, a good mystery and an amateur sleuth determined to find out the truth.
September 11, 2023
My first book by this author and I was pleasantly impressed. Good storyline and told in a way that keeps you guessing.
June 3, 2019
A dark and atmospheric thriller. Do you really know the ones that you live and can you really trust them completely. This is a deep and dark story about a tragic event and the outcome of what happened leading up to and after the event.
September 3, 2019
I'm a little behind with my Sanjida Kay books but having absolutely loved her debut, Bone by Bone, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her new novel, One Year Later. I have to say that I literally couldn't put this book down; when I wasn't reading it, I carried it around with me as if it was superglued to my hand. It certainly made a lasting impression on me and I felt incredibly emotional as I turned the final page.
The loss of a child is always going to be highly emotional and I found this story heartbreaking from the very first chapter when we are introduced to grieving mother, Amy. Amy and Matt's daughter, Ruby-May, died the day before her third birthday whilst in the care of Amy's family. For the first anniversary of Ruby-May's death, a trip to a remote Italian island is arranged for all but one member of the family - the person who Amy and Matt blame for the death of their daughter. Some members of the family think it is time to forgive but others want to keep the focus of the blame firmly in the direction it is currently pointed.
I love books like this where the characters have things to hide and maybe aren't what they seem. I felt a bit guilty suspecting them of covering up the truth as ultimately they are all grieving the loss of a little girl, but I knew that there was more to this story than first meets the eye. I really enjoyed delving into the sibling relationships between Amy and her brother Nick and her sister Bethany. The chapters are told from either Nick or Amy's point of view so you get a really good feel for the characters and also little discrepancies between their memories that really heightened the intrigue.
I liked how Dante Alighieri's poem The Divine Comedy is mentioned quite a few times in the book; it really seemed to fit into the story as the characters were finding their way through their own personal hell. Along with some great references to Star Wars, I was also delighted to see an Avery Barkley quote from one of my favourite TV shows, Nashville, being immortalised in print. Sanjida Kay is obviously a fellow Nashie!
Heartbreaking from the start and packed with emotion, One Year Later is an intelligent and engrossing domestic thriller. Sanjida Kay perfectly encapsulates the intense feelings we have for our family in her stunning new novel. A definite recommended read and a sparkling five stars from me.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The loss of a child is always going to be highly emotional and I found this story heartbreaking from the very first chapter when we are introduced to grieving mother, Amy. Amy and Matt's daughter, Ruby-May, died the day before her third birthday whilst in the care of Amy's family. For the first anniversary of Ruby-May's death, a trip to a remote Italian island is arranged for all but one member of the family - the person who Amy and Matt blame for the death of their daughter. Some members of the family think it is time to forgive but others want to keep the focus of the blame firmly in the direction it is currently pointed.
I love books like this where the characters have things to hide and maybe aren't what they seem. I felt a bit guilty suspecting them of covering up the truth as ultimately they are all grieving the loss of a little girl, but I knew that there was more to this story than first meets the eye. I really enjoyed delving into the sibling relationships between Amy and her brother Nick and her sister Bethany. The chapters are told from either Nick or Amy's point of view so you get a really good feel for the characters and also little discrepancies between their memories that really heightened the intrigue.
I liked how Dante Alighieri's poem The Divine Comedy is mentioned quite a few times in the book; it really seemed to fit into the story as the characters were finding their way through their own personal hell. Along with some great references to Star Wars, I was also delighted to see an Avery Barkley quote from one of my favourite TV shows, Nashville, being immortalised in print. Sanjida Kay is obviously a fellow Nashie!
Heartbreaking from the start and packed with emotion, One Year Later is an intelligent and engrossing domestic thriller. Sanjida Kay perfectly encapsulates the intense feelings we have for our family in her stunning new novel. A definite recommended read and a sparkling five stars from me.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 8, 2019
One Year later is a tale of family, tragedy and secrets…..Amy and Matt’s young daughter, Ruby-May had died in a tragic accident….but who was meant to be watching her ?
On the anniversary of her death, Amy wants to get away…..not to Somerset, but a holiday without constant reminders of her daughter…It’s decided on Italy, for the whole family, except one member…….he would not be welcome.
So, they arrive and find they are in an idyllic area, in a lovely cottage near a pool and the sea…..but then Nick, Amy’s brother arrives with their father in tow…..the tension is palpable at this point…..he is blamed for Ruby-May’s death, as he was meant to be watching her…..wasn’t he? He doesn’t remember being asked to look after her….is he in the early stages of dementia? Bethany, Amy’s sister believes this to be the case…who is telling the truth?
I loved Sanjida Kay’s descriptive writing, from Somerset to Italy, you could feel the heat of summer and smell the thyme, which all build the atmosphere beautifully. The characters are all so well developed you will share their emotions and more than a tear or two at times. Utterly gripping, this us A tale of family, loyalty, love and heartbreak…an emotion packed family drama with the odd twist too. Brilliant.
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook.. This is my honest, unbiased review.
On the anniversary of her death, Amy wants to get away…..not to Somerset, but a holiday without constant reminders of her daughter…It’s decided on Italy, for the whole family, except one member…….he would not be welcome.
So, they arrive and find they are in an idyllic area, in a lovely cottage near a pool and the sea…..but then Nick, Amy’s brother arrives with their father in tow…..the tension is palpable at this point…..he is blamed for Ruby-May’s death, as he was meant to be watching her…..wasn’t he? He doesn’t remember being asked to look after her….is he in the early stages of dementia? Bethany, Amy’s sister believes this to be the case…who is telling the truth?
I loved Sanjida Kay’s descriptive writing, from Somerset to Italy, you could feel the heat of summer and smell the thyme, which all build the atmosphere beautifully. The characters are all so well developed you will share their emotions and more than a tear or two at times. Utterly gripping, this us A tale of family, loyalty, love and heartbreak…an emotion packed family drama with the odd twist too. Brilliant.
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook.. This is my honest, unbiased review.
August 18, 2019
One Year Later by Sanjida Kay is a psychological thriller that had my heart in my mouth from the first page. It starts with an emotive subject: the death of a child - 3 year old Ruby. The family becomes fractured, no one deals well with Ruby’s death, and so Nick, her uncle, convinces his sister and her husband that it would be a good idea for the whole family to celebrate or mark the anniversary of Ruby’s death abroad and away from the bad memories. So they all go to a small island off the coast of Italy. But instead of this being the healing holiday that everyone needs and hopes for, secrets are revealed and it looks as though fractures within the family will become even worse.
I really think that Sanjida Kay has the voices of the characters just right: the mother who is barely able to function and hides alcohol around the house, just to get by and to be able to function for her two living children; the father who distances himself from everyone; the uncle who constantly thinks about his dead niece, and blames himself even though he couldn’t possibly be to blame; the sister who seems completely wrapped up in her own world of TV and her looks; and the grandfather who is responsible for the death of his granddaughter, but can’t remember what happened.
It’s such an emotional subject and so well written. I found myself very involved with these characters, and I couldn’t help but empathise with them. I was never quite sure if the person they all thought was responsible for Ruby’s death actually was, but I have to admit that I changed my mind a few times. The twist revealing the actual culprit came as a total shock and surprise.
A really very impressive book, in my opinion, and I’ll be telling everyone to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
I really think that Sanjida Kay has the voices of the characters just right: the mother who is barely able to function and hides alcohol around the house, just to get by and to be able to function for her two living children; the father who distances himself from everyone; the uncle who constantly thinks about his dead niece, and blames himself even though he couldn’t possibly be to blame; the sister who seems completely wrapped up in her own world of TV and her looks; and the grandfather who is responsible for the death of his granddaughter, but can’t remember what happened.
It’s such an emotional subject and so well written. I found myself very involved with these characters, and I couldn’t help but empathise with them. I was never quite sure if the person they all thought was responsible for Ruby’s death actually was, but I have to admit that I changed my mind a few times. The twist revealing the actual culprit came as a total shock and surprise.
A really very impressive book, in my opinion, and I’ll be telling everyone to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
June 17, 2020
One Year Later was an interesting psychological thriller that looks into loss, betrayal and hidden secrets. The first thing that drew me into this book was the mystery of finding out exactly what happened one year ago. The opening pages had me intrigued and could wait to get into the meat of the book.
Although well written and full of twists that will have you guessing till the end, there was still something missing which made me feel like the book didn’t quite have me gripped as I thought it would.
What I did like about this book was the way the story is told through two different perspectives, one from the mother and the second from the uncle. I found this quite unique as normally you would only get the perspective from the mother and occasionally the father as well. I also really liked how the different grief was shown. The book does make the reader feel sad at times and because of this the characters felt very believable, and it makes you feel sorry for what they are going through.
I may not have enjoyed it as much as I thought I would but it was definitely an interesting read and one I’m glad I decided to request from NetGalley.
This is another author I will be looking out for in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Atlantic Books, Corvus for a copy of my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Although well written and full of twists that will have you guessing till the end, there was still something missing which made me feel like the book didn’t quite have me gripped as I thought it would.
What I did like about this book was the way the story is told through two different perspectives, one from the mother and the second from the uncle. I found this quite unique as normally you would only get the perspective from the mother and occasionally the father as well. I also really liked how the different grief was shown. The book does make the reader feel sad at times and because of this the characters felt very believable, and it makes you feel sorry for what they are going through.
I may not have enjoyed it as much as I thought I would but it was definitely an interesting read and one I’m glad I decided to request from NetGalley.
This is another author I will be looking out for in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Atlantic Books, Corvus for a copy of my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
September 18, 2024
What a tough read! …not because it’s a bad book but entirely because it’s an emotional rollercoaster. From start to finish I was gripped and although I thought I had it figured out from very early on, I didn’t realise I wasn’t quite right until the very end. Nothing is quite as exciting in thriller books as thinking you’re clever, only to be shown the author fooled you and fooled you well!
It’s a tense and relatively fast paced plot but does leave a big sting with the tough topics within. It doesn’t shy away from making you uncomfortable, leaving your heart aching and your throat choking up. That being said, it end in such a beautifully hopeful way and I can’t think of a better way to have it tied together. Over all, I recommend this read. Another amazing book from my library!
**TW for potential readers of this book: It as brief discussions of sexual assault/rape & the plot is entirely based around the unfortunate accidental death of a young child.**
It’s a tense and relatively fast paced plot but does leave a big sting with the tough topics within. It doesn’t shy away from making you uncomfortable, leaving your heart aching and your throat choking up. That being said, it end in such a beautifully hopeful way and I can’t think of a better way to have it tied together. Over all, I recommend this read. Another amazing book from my library!
**TW for potential readers of this book: It as brief discussions of sexual assault/rape & the plot is entirely based around the unfortunate accidental death of a young child.**
July 27, 2019
One Year Later focuses on the Flowers family following the devastating loss of a family member, 3 year old Ruby-May.
For the anniversary of her death the family decided to go on holiday, hoping to grieve and celebrate her 4th birthday the day after the anniversary. But nothing goes quite to plan - there's family drama galore and secrets to be explored.
This is such an atmospheric book, I really felt the grief and sadness portrayed through the pages, especially from Ruby-May's mother. The characters were well written with deep backgrounds, each portraying and handling their grief in different ways.
This fast paced book is full of secrets, drama and twists and turns. The beautiful cover really does not portray the darker content of the book.
I was disappointed when this book ended and I look forward to more from this author.
For the anniversary of her death the family decided to go on holiday, hoping to grieve and celebrate her 4th birthday the day after the anniversary. But nothing goes quite to plan - there's family drama galore and secrets to be explored.
This is such an atmospheric book, I really felt the grief and sadness portrayed through the pages, especially from Ruby-May's mother. The characters were well written with deep backgrounds, each portraying and handling their grief in different ways.
This fast paced book is full of secrets, drama and twists and turns. The beautiful cover really does not portray the darker content of the book.
I was disappointed when this book ended and I look forward to more from this author.
November 28, 2020
Just wonderful
July 31, 2019
I recieved a finished copy of the paperback from Readrrs First in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this one, it had a lot of build up and a couple of twists, some big, some small...
I wasn't a fan of many of the characters, Nick was probably the only one I connected with, both being the youngest child probably helped with this. But I understood the characters reactions, and the way they acted - to a certain degree -
The story was well written and the plot was well spaced and read really fluidly. I couldn't wait to get to the end, and I managed to read it in 3 days. There was a lot of though put into the method and lies, and I didn't guess the final twists until the characters did, which was a nice surprise, it was obvious or over the top.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
I really enjoyed this one, it had a lot of build up and a couple of twists, some big, some small...
I wasn't a fan of many of the characters, Nick was probably the only one I connected with, both being the youngest child probably helped with this. But I understood the characters reactions, and the way they acted - to a certain degree -
The story was well written and the plot was well spaced and read really fluidly. I couldn't wait to get to the end, and I managed to read it in 3 days. There was a lot of though put into the method and lies, and I didn't guess the final twists until the characters did, which was a nice surprise, it was obvious or over the top.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
Meh, I wanted to love this book. The plot sounds great and I had really high hopes for it, however it just completely fell short of the mark for me. Amy's daughter Ruby-May died in an accident one year ago which the family blames primarily on Ruby-May's grandfather. Around the time of the anniversary the family decide to go on holiday together to try and repair their wounds, however it's not always that simple!
I found the writing style became quite stilted around the middle of the book. Sentences became quite short, and there was a lot of telling. I really started to notice this because there wasn't much else going on. In saying this, I did still really want to get to the end and find out what happened, but this meant I ending up skim reading parts which I was finding clunky to read. For me this was a real shame as I did start off enjoying the book.
There was a twist at the end, but this still didn't save it for me! I hadn't grown to like any of the characters and I was finding it all a little hard to believe. Also, some of the sub-plots-cum-red-herrings were explained rather too quickly for my liking; this rather reduced the shock factor.
Overall it just wasn't for me, 2.5 stars.
Thanks to Readers First for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I found the writing style became quite stilted around the middle of the book. Sentences became quite short, and there was a lot of telling. I really started to notice this because there wasn't much else going on. In saying this, I did still really want to get to the end and find out what happened, but this meant I ending up skim reading parts which I was finding clunky to read. For me this was a real shame as I did start off enjoying the book.
There was a twist at the end, but this still didn't save it for me! I hadn't grown to like any of the characters and I was finding it all a little hard to believe. Also, some of the sub-plots-cum-red-herrings were explained rather too quickly for my liking; this rather reduced the shock factor.
Overall it just wasn't for me, 2.5 stars.
Thanks to Readers First for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
January 23, 2020
THE FORTY FIVE PAGES SHORT OF THE YEAR IS ALL THAT’S MISSING FROM KAYS MULTI-LAYERED THRILLER.
As I was reading this months first book, I was spending a long weekend in Kerry with my husband’s extended family. Nothing too sinister in the way of secrets involved, just a surprise 70th birthday celebration for his uncle. It had been planned over months and involved various relatives flying in or driving down to Kerry, caterers and, of course, a cake. All went off without a hitch, the birthday boy being left, for once, speechless. It was still interesting as a newcomer to the family to watch the interactions, the ancient but tolerated jokes and the acceptance of a few little irritations, which occur when a large group of people are forced together for several days.
The house we rented had access to its own private beach and there were some prior conversations regarding children and safety but as it turned out the beach was a good 15-minute walk from the house. Its easy to see how accidents may happen though. In such a big group everyone assumes someone else is watching the children. Fortunately, the most dramatic event of this kind that occurred was myself being forgotten about at the serving of the party food, as I was keeping an eye on a three-year-old niece in a far-flung corner of the house at the time.
That is the premise of this month’s book, a family gathering following the tragic and untimely death of a young member. Its One Year Later by Sanjida Kay and published by Corvus Books (www.atlantic-books.co.uk) on the 1st of August .
One year after Ruby -May, Amy’s daughter dies in a tragic accident, the family go on a holiday to an idyllic Italian island to heal and repair family relationships. Once they arrive, they find nothing is as it seems and at least one of them hides a shocking secret. Things begin to spiral out of control and Amy wonders if all of them will make it back.
I can only imagine the horror and guilt that occur when a child drowns on a family property, as a result of a moments lapse of supervision. This is what has happened to Ruby- May, although for a while it isn’t clear what happened to cause her death. Guilt and recriminations have ravaged what was once a close family. Everyone is questioning their actions. Ruby-May’s grandfather has been blamed as he, we are told, was supposed to be looking after her. However, there is some suspicion that he has started to suffer from Alzheimer’s, so is he really to blame? The family go away for the anniversary of the death. Their father turns up as an unwanted quest and there are some other non family members along for the holiday too, such as their nanny and their sister’s personal trainer. Nick, Amy’s brother starts to question the events surrounding Ruby-May’s death . Also it seems someone is watching the family in their holiday home, creeping around. You begin to wonder if the family is safe.
I liked the way Sanjida Kay told the story from both Nick and Amy’s viewpoints. This gave you a different perspective to events. I enjoy books where the story is told by a different character each chapter and you slowly get the full picture. Here there weren’t too many characters to keep track of either. The plot was rather like an onion, with layer after layer slowly being unpeeled (and occasionally making your eyes water!) There was a slow build of tension to a clever twist or two and a satisfying conclusion. In some ways this was Agatha Christie-esque with a limited number of suspects in an isolated location. There were a number of red herrings to distract you too as almost everyone had a secret. It certainly had me turning stuff over between reads!
Dante’s Divine Comedy is referenced at the beginning of the novel in an epigram and throughout by one of the characters reading it, and by his copy being seen in story locations. I have been thinking about its meaning in relation to this story. It has a link to the Italian location but I wondered if the author had referenced it in relation to the difficult path through grief or to the labyrinthine layers of secrets and pain to be worked through in this story in order for the family to reach a happier conclusion. I’m no scholar and it’s all a little too deep for me, but it piqued my interest. I wonder what others on the blog tour felt?
This is English writer and broadcaster, Sanjida Kay’s (www.sanjida.co.uk), fourth psychological thriller. The others are My Mothers Secret (2018), Stolen Child (2017) and Bone by Bone (2016). She’s also written a number of books of historical fiction including Sugar Island (2011) and The Naked Name Of Love (2009). As a result of her work on BBC televisions wildlife programmes she’s written books about nature and science as well as one looking at Mind Reading. She currently lives in Somerset with her husband and daughter.
There are similar themed novels to One Year Later out there, such as a particular favourite of mine, Liane Moriarty’s Truly, Madly, Guilty, which has been optioned for a movie by Reece Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman; but I see this giving that a run for its money. Its certainly a book I’d be recommending to friends, so don’t wait a year to get this gripping read.
Reviewed by : Georgina Murphy on www.thelibrarydoor.me
As I was reading this months first book, I was spending a long weekend in Kerry with my husband’s extended family. Nothing too sinister in the way of secrets involved, just a surprise 70th birthday celebration for his uncle. It had been planned over months and involved various relatives flying in or driving down to Kerry, caterers and, of course, a cake. All went off without a hitch, the birthday boy being left, for once, speechless. It was still interesting as a newcomer to the family to watch the interactions, the ancient but tolerated jokes and the acceptance of a few little irritations, which occur when a large group of people are forced together for several days.
The house we rented had access to its own private beach and there were some prior conversations regarding children and safety but as it turned out the beach was a good 15-minute walk from the house. Its easy to see how accidents may happen though. In such a big group everyone assumes someone else is watching the children. Fortunately, the most dramatic event of this kind that occurred was myself being forgotten about at the serving of the party food, as I was keeping an eye on a three-year-old niece in a far-flung corner of the house at the time.
That is the premise of this month’s book, a family gathering following the tragic and untimely death of a young member. Its One Year Later by Sanjida Kay and published by Corvus Books (www.atlantic-books.co.uk) on the 1st of August .
One year after Ruby -May, Amy’s daughter dies in a tragic accident, the family go on a holiday to an idyllic Italian island to heal and repair family relationships. Once they arrive, they find nothing is as it seems and at least one of them hides a shocking secret. Things begin to spiral out of control and Amy wonders if all of them will make it back.
I can only imagine the horror and guilt that occur when a child drowns on a family property, as a result of a moments lapse of supervision. This is what has happened to Ruby- May, although for a while it isn’t clear what happened to cause her death. Guilt and recriminations have ravaged what was once a close family. Everyone is questioning their actions. Ruby-May’s grandfather has been blamed as he, we are told, was supposed to be looking after her. However, there is some suspicion that he has started to suffer from Alzheimer’s, so is he really to blame? The family go away for the anniversary of the death. Their father turns up as an unwanted quest and there are some other non family members along for the holiday too, such as their nanny and their sister’s personal trainer. Nick, Amy’s brother starts to question the events surrounding Ruby-May’s death . Also it seems someone is watching the family in their holiday home, creeping around. You begin to wonder if the family is safe.
I liked the way Sanjida Kay told the story from both Nick and Amy’s viewpoints. This gave you a different perspective to events. I enjoy books where the story is told by a different character each chapter and you slowly get the full picture. Here there weren’t too many characters to keep track of either. The plot was rather like an onion, with layer after layer slowly being unpeeled (and occasionally making your eyes water!) There was a slow build of tension to a clever twist or two and a satisfying conclusion. In some ways this was Agatha Christie-esque with a limited number of suspects in an isolated location. There were a number of red herrings to distract you too as almost everyone had a secret. It certainly had me turning stuff over between reads!
Dante’s Divine Comedy is referenced at the beginning of the novel in an epigram and throughout by one of the characters reading it, and by his copy being seen in story locations. I have been thinking about its meaning in relation to this story. It has a link to the Italian location but I wondered if the author had referenced it in relation to the difficult path through grief or to the labyrinthine layers of secrets and pain to be worked through in this story in order for the family to reach a happier conclusion. I’m no scholar and it’s all a little too deep for me, but it piqued my interest. I wonder what others on the blog tour felt?
This is English writer and broadcaster, Sanjida Kay’s (www.sanjida.co.uk), fourth psychological thriller. The others are My Mothers Secret (2018), Stolen Child (2017) and Bone by Bone (2016). She’s also written a number of books of historical fiction including Sugar Island (2011) and The Naked Name Of Love (2009). As a result of her work on BBC televisions wildlife programmes she’s written books about nature and science as well as one looking at Mind Reading. She currently lives in Somerset with her husband and daughter.
There are similar themed novels to One Year Later out there, such as a particular favourite of mine, Liane Moriarty’s Truly, Madly, Guilty, which has been optioned for a movie by Reece Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman; but I see this giving that a run for its money. Its certainly a book I’d be recommending to friends, so don’t wait a year to get this gripping read.
Reviewed by : Georgina Murphy on www.thelibrarydoor.me
March 20, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up
On the face of it, this one had several of the components that make a good thriller. Along the way we have an interesting and isolated setting, multiple narratives, characters that you do not know whether to trust, and the occasional unexpected twist. Yet for all of that, when pieced together the end result was fairly underwhelming.
My expectations were high after enjoying Sanjida Kay's previous thrillers. They were rich in detail and had compelling plots which more often that not led to dramatic revelations, but I just did not feel the same way here. The writing is still very good, but I struggled throughout to connect with the characters, and that in turn made the story less moving.
A year ago, Amy's young daughter Ruby-May died in a tragic accident, and in her grief she and husband Matt have struggled to move on ever since. She also blames her father for Ruby-May's death, as he had apparently been told to watch her at the time it happened.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Amy's younger brother Nick suggests a big family holiday to an island in Tuscany. The entire family flies out, and without telling the others Nick brings their father along, which causes friction. There are constant reminders about what happened when Ruby-May died, and mysterious things begin to happen at the villa where they are staying.
Some of the book is told in the third person, primarily from the perspective of Amy. It is in these chapters where you are able to see the bigger picture and make up your mind about most of the characters. It is also where the impact of Ruby-May's loss really comes through in the writing, and the damage it has done to the family.
However, two thirds of the story is narrated by Nick in the first person, which seemed a surprising choice at the time and I still feel the same way now. As Ruby-May's uncle, he played such a central role and it is through him where we get most of the desire for revenge and determination to find out what really happened.
Nick is an interesting character to follow as he uncovers the mystery, but sadly I never really connected with him or found him particularly engaging. He was certainly much different to other narrators I have come across, but the fact that so much of the book was told from his viewpoint did not always compel me to read on.
Indeed, the book's biggest weakness is that none of the characters are massively likeable or even interesting. Bethany was the most multi-layered, but ultimately she was just as grating as many of the rest. Some of the themes were explored well and in detail, though for a story that should conjure emotion I sadly just did not feel it.
The Italian setting was very well realised, with vivid descriptions and a suitable atmosphere that made it feel picturesque, yet also quite isolated. Such was the structure of the book, it alternated frequently between the present events in Italy and what had previously taken place in the South West of England where the family live.
In Sanjida Kay's previous books I have been used to her writing with broad brush strokes, so to speak. That level of depth just was not there on this occasion, and without it this one felt like just another average thriller by comparison. The twist at the end came as a slight surprise, but it did not serious enhance my feelings towards the book.
Overall, this one did not live up to my expectations. There were definitely some highlights, such as the setting and the quality of the writing, but the characters and my inability to connect with them was something of a letdown for me. Unlike Sanjida Kay's other thrillers, it fails to stand out.
On the face of it, this one had several of the components that make a good thriller. Along the way we have an interesting and isolated setting, multiple narratives, characters that you do not know whether to trust, and the occasional unexpected twist. Yet for all of that, when pieced together the end result was fairly underwhelming.
My expectations were high after enjoying Sanjida Kay's previous thrillers. They were rich in detail and had compelling plots which more often that not led to dramatic revelations, but I just did not feel the same way here. The writing is still very good, but I struggled throughout to connect with the characters, and that in turn made the story less moving.
A year ago, Amy's young daughter Ruby-May died in a tragic accident, and in her grief she and husband Matt have struggled to move on ever since. She also blames her father for Ruby-May's death, as he had apparently been told to watch her at the time it happened.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Amy's younger brother Nick suggests a big family holiday to an island in Tuscany. The entire family flies out, and without telling the others Nick brings their father along, which causes friction. There are constant reminders about what happened when Ruby-May died, and mysterious things begin to happen at the villa where they are staying.
Some of the book is told in the third person, primarily from the perspective of Amy. It is in these chapters where you are able to see the bigger picture and make up your mind about most of the characters. It is also where the impact of Ruby-May's loss really comes through in the writing, and the damage it has done to the family.
However, two thirds of the story is narrated by Nick in the first person, which seemed a surprising choice at the time and I still feel the same way now. As Ruby-May's uncle, he played such a central role and it is through him where we get most of the desire for revenge and determination to find out what really happened.
Nick is an interesting character to follow as he uncovers the mystery, but sadly I never really connected with him or found him particularly engaging. He was certainly much different to other narrators I have come across, but the fact that so much of the book was told from his viewpoint did not always compel me to read on.
Indeed, the book's biggest weakness is that none of the characters are massively likeable or even interesting. Bethany was the most multi-layered, but ultimately she was just as grating as many of the rest. Some of the themes were explored well and in detail, though for a story that should conjure emotion I sadly just did not feel it.
The Italian setting was very well realised, with vivid descriptions and a suitable atmosphere that made it feel picturesque, yet also quite isolated. Such was the structure of the book, it alternated frequently between the present events in Italy and what had previously taken place in the South West of England where the family live.
In Sanjida Kay's previous books I have been used to her writing with broad brush strokes, so to speak. That level of depth just was not there on this occasion, and without it this one felt like just another average thriller by comparison. The twist at the end came as a slight surprise, but it did not serious enhance my feelings towards the book.
Overall, this one did not live up to my expectations. There were definitely some highlights, such as the setting and the quality of the writing, but the characters and my inability to connect with them was something of a letdown for me. Unlike Sanjida Kay's other thrillers, it fails to stand out.
August 7, 2019
I had to have a little think about this one before I wrote this review... which isn't the norm for me - I usually have a lot to say very quickly!
The book starts off with an excerpt of an Italian man finding a young female body on the beach. Which after having read the blurb of the book feels a little disconcerting. What does this body have to do with the main story line? of a family dealing with their grief after the tragic death of almost 3 year old Ruby-May?
We join Amy (Ruby-May's mother) and her family a short time before the first anniversary of the awful accident. It is clear - as with every aftermath of death - that every single member off the Flowers family, close and extended, is deeply affected by the loss of beautiful, energetic and young Ruby-May. The story is written from the perspectives of Amy, and her younger brother, Nick. Although not strictly written in the first person - its an odd combination of angles at times.
Nick suggests that they all go on holiday for the Anniversary, and to mend their family's fractures - being as that in the past year, many of them have not spoken. There are strong feelings of blame and guilt between them all, resulting in a deep divide which he hopes to resolve. This holiday, on a fictitious island in beautiful Italy, is where most of this story happens. Where Amy tries to muddle through her days full of grief, and Nick inadvertently finds himself on a quest to find out what REALLY happened that fateful day, almost a year ago.
The book jumps from present day to many points in the past - including the day we lose Ruby-May - and this creates a very rounded sense of the Flowers family. We are able to see mini moments in their childhood which reveal the relationships between each other, and with their parents. As with every family, they have their secrets, and as we know they always resurface at some point...
The book is written well and in no way did I struggle to connect with the characters - although the first half is quite slow burning. I did get to a point midway where a few points were revealed and I got very impatient - I finished the second half that evening! The reason why I had to ponder the book before writing this, was because I simply could not decide whether I liked it or not. I'm still unsure. The book has its reveals, twists and turns, and the characters are well rounded and explored - which are my main hooks in any book - however I personally felt the ending and its final twist was a little underwhelming? but then, to contradict myself, the lack of a thrilling shock made it all the more realistic, more emotional. Maybe it didn't need the fireworks. It ended with a flawed and healing family, like yours and mine.
Thank you to Readers First and Corvus Books for the ARC.
The book starts off with an excerpt of an Italian man finding a young female body on the beach. Which after having read the blurb of the book feels a little disconcerting. What does this body have to do with the main story line? of a family dealing with their grief after the tragic death of almost 3 year old Ruby-May?
We join Amy (Ruby-May's mother) and her family a short time before the first anniversary of the awful accident. It is clear - as with every aftermath of death - that every single member off the Flowers family, close and extended, is deeply affected by the loss of beautiful, energetic and young Ruby-May. The story is written from the perspectives of Amy, and her younger brother, Nick. Although not strictly written in the first person - its an odd combination of angles at times.
Nick suggests that they all go on holiday for the Anniversary, and to mend their family's fractures - being as that in the past year, many of them have not spoken. There are strong feelings of blame and guilt between them all, resulting in a deep divide which he hopes to resolve. This holiday, on a fictitious island in beautiful Italy, is where most of this story happens. Where Amy tries to muddle through her days full of grief, and Nick inadvertently finds himself on a quest to find out what REALLY happened that fateful day, almost a year ago.
The book jumps from present day to many points in the past - including the day we lose Ruby-May - and this creates a very rounded sense of the Flowers family. We are able to see mini moments in their childhood which reveal the relationships between each other, and with their parents. As with every family, they have their secrets, and as we know they always resurface at some point...
The book is written well and in no way did I struggle to connect with the characters - although the first half is quite slow burning. I did get to a point midway where a few points were revealed and I got very impatient - I finished the second half that evening! The reason why I had to ponder the book before writing this, was because I simply could not decide whether I liked it or not. I'm still unsure. The book has its reveals, twists and turns, and the characters are well rounded and explored - which are my main hooks in any book - however I personally felt the ending and its final twist was a little underwhelming? but then, to contradict myself, the lack of a thrilling shock made it all the more realistic, more emotional. Maybe it didn't need the fireworks. It ended with a flawed and healing family, like yours and mine.
Thank you to Readers First and Corvus Books for the ARC.
July 30, 2019
A year ago, Amy lost her daughter Ruby-May in a terrible accident. With the anniversary of her death looming, the family decide to go on holiday, away from the scene of the incident, to a place where, they hope, they can begin to heal the rifts that have happened since their loss. It soon becomes apparent, however, that all is not quite what it seems and there is at least one person hiding something that could change their perception of what exactly happened one year ago. Just exactly who caused Ruby-May’s death and what other secrets have been concealed over the years?
The tone is set from the very start when what seems to be the body of a woman is discovered. For the majority of the book, this is not mentioned, leaving me wondering who is was and how it fit in with the tragic death of Ruby-May one year earlier. By the time this is, again, referenced, we are aware that there is, indeed, a lot more to Ruby-May’s death than we realised and there has been a huge cover up to stop the real guilty party from coming to light.
We read the story from the perspectives of Amy, Ruby-May’s mum, and Nick, the dead girl’s uncle. Their grief is portrayed in different ways and was definitely one of the strengths of the book. In Amy, we see real visceral grief, struggling to come to terms with the death of her youngest child while trying to keep going for the sake of her two other children. The scene where she realises how much she neglected them in the weeks following the death was truly heartbreaking, more so because of the way the children dealt with the terrible situation.
Nick displayed his grief in a different way as he has been carrying around the guilt of not being there when Ruby-May died. His head full of ‘what ifs’, it is understandable why he is intent on trying to heal his family’s rifts, even if his good intentions often result in more unrest.
While it is obvious that the official version of the accident is not correct, and that there has definitely been a conspiracy of silence, I did not predict the ending. This is one of those books where you realise that you have been drip fed information throughout the plot, and the ending is completely in-keeping with what you have read. The several references to Dante’s The Divine Comedy are also very apt, with salvation and repentance being running themes in both texts.
I really enjoyed One Year Later and I thank Readers First and Corvus Books for my copy.
The tone is set from the very start when what seems to be the body of a woman is discovered. For the majority of the book, this is not mentioned, leaving me wondering who is was and how it fit in with the tragic death of Ruby-May one year earlier. By the time this is, again, referenced, we are aware that there is, indeed, a lot more to Ruby-May’s death than we realised and there has been a huge cover up to stop the real guilty party from coming to light.
We read the story from the perspectives of Amy, Ruby-May’s mum, and Nick, the dead girl’s uncle. Their grief is portrayed in different ways and was definitely one of the strengths of the book. In Amy, we see real visceral grief, struggling to come to terms with the death of her youngest child while trying to keep going for the sake of her two other children. The scene where she realises how much she neglected them in the weeks following the death was truly heartbreaking, more so because of the way the children dealt with the terrible situation.
Nick displayed his grief in a different way as he has been carrying around the guilt of not being there when Ruby-May died. His head full of ‘what ifs’, it is understandable why he is intent on trying to heal his family’s rifts, even if his good intentions often result in more unrest.
While it is obvious that the official version of the accident is not correct, and that there has definitely been a conspiracy of silence, I did not predict the ending. This is one of those books where you realise that you have been drip fed information throughout the plot, and the ending is completely in-keeping with what you have read. The several references to Dante’s The Divine Comedy are also very apt, with salvation and repentance being running themes in both texts.
I really enjoyed One Year Later and I thank Readers First and Corvus Books for my copy.
October 27, 2021
i read this book in one sitting.
"since amy's daughter, ruby-may, died in a terrible accident, her family have been beset by grief. one year later, the family decide to go on holiday to mend their wounds. an idyllic island in italy seems the perfect place for them to heal and repair their relationships with one another. but no sooner have they arrived than they discover nothing on the remote island is as quite it seems. and with the anniversary of the little girl's death looming, it becomes clear that at least one person in the family is hiding a shocking secret. as things start to go rapidly wrong, amy begins to question whether everyone will make it home. "
Review:
i read this book in one sitting, in under an hour. i'm definitely going to consider reading more from this writer. the book was really good.
one of the first things that struck me was that the story was told from amy and nick's perspective, but mostly nick's. the fact it was told from a male perspective added something to the story that i find hard to describe - but i think the way amy's grief is described, and how close nick was to his niece ruby-may, adds that tension and curiousity to the story, especially the way it alternates between them both.
you can quickly tell how valued and loved ruby-may was. we know that many members of the family are not getting over their grief. for one - the day ruby-may died was the day before her third birthday. she was found face-down in the pond, drowned.
nick, her uncle, had a purple unicorn he was going to give her. he still kept it, nearly one year later, but at the end of the book we see how he comes to terms with his grief, by giving it to one of the other two children of Amy and her husband Matt - Lotte. i find this incredibly cute. like i genuienly love it, ADORABLE.
this book was interesting, with strong family elements, and a strong sense of tension in all the right places, and the clues through-out the book were cleverly placed, and when i found out who the murderer was, i found myself kicking myself. this book teaches you maybe you can't get away from your past as much as you try, not to believe what you first see, and that people can make mistakes. Whether you forgive them or not - will they ever forgive themselves?
"since amy's daughter, ruby-may, died in a terrible accident, her family have been beset by grief. one year later, the family decide to go on holiday to mend their wounds. an idyllic island in italy seems the perfect place for them to heal and repair their relationships with one another. but no sooner have they arrived than they discover nothing on the remote island is as quite it seems. and with the anniversary of the little girl's death looming, it becomes clear that at least one person in the family is hiding a shocking secret. as things start to go rapidly wrong, amy begins to question whether everyone will make it home. "
Review:
i read this book in one sitting, in under an hour. i'm definitely going to consider reading more from this writer. the book was really good.
one of the first things that struck me was that the story was told from amy and nick's perspective, but mostly nick's. the fact it was told from a male perspective added something to the story that i find hard to describe - but i think the way amy's grief is described, and how close nick was to his niece ruby-may, adds that tension and curiousity to the story, especially the way it alternates between them both.
you can quickly tell how valued and loved ruby-may was. we know that many members of the family are not getting over their grief. for one - the day ruby-may died was the day before her third birthday. she was found face-down in the pond, drowned.
nick, her uncle, had a purple unicorn he was going to give her. he still kept it, nearly one year later, but at the end of the book we see how he comes to terms with his grief, by giving it to one of the other two children of Amy and her husband Matt - Lotte. i find this incredibly cute. like i genuienly love it, ADORABLE.
this book was interesting, with strong family elements, and a strong sense of tension in all the right places, and the clues through-out the book were cleverly placed, and when i found out who the murderer was, i found myself kicking myself. this book teaches you maybe you can't get away from your past as much as you try, not to believe what you first see, and that people can make mistakes. Whether you forgive them or not - will they ever forgive themselves?
August 7, 2019
A year ago Amy's family was rocked to its foundations when her youngest child, Ruby-May, was tragically killed. To mark the occasion the family decide to visit a small island in Italy to attempt to move on. But when Amy's brother Nick arrives with their father, tensions rise and anger erupts. You see Amy's father was to blame for Ruby-Mae's death, even though he categorically denies he was to blame. And as the long hot days pass instead of the holiday healing old wounds it begins to rip them open.
From the first few pages I was hooked - this author's writing is really something else. I love reading books set in other countries and the descriptions of Italy and the villa were unbelievably evocative, I almost felt as if I was there! The author writes with such care and detail, picking up on everything that it was an utter joy to read. The characters were also fascinating, I'm not sure any of them were particularly likeable, but they were all so interesting that I wanted to hear more about each one, and I loved the little dips back into their past, I felt it really added something extra to the story.
And finally, the plot. I had no idea where it was going, particularly as the book opens with a woman's body found on a beach, but then focused on the grief the family was facing after the loss of Ruby-Mae. We find out early on how Ruby-Mae died, but as the story develops it's evident that there are so many secrets lurking within this family and it just got more and more interesting and gripping. By the last 100 pages I was absolutely desperate to know what was going on and I couldn't put it down. Oh and what a fantastic ending, an extra little curveball to finish it all off.
This is my first book by Sanjida Kay and it won't be my last. What a talent.
From the first few pages I was hooked - this author's writing is really something else. I love reading books set in other countries and the descriptions of Italy and the villa were unbelievably evocative, I almost felt as if I was there! The author writes with such care and detail, picking up on everything that it was an utter joy to read. The characters were also fascinating, I'm not sure any of them were particularly likeable, but they were all so interesting that I wanted to hear more about each one, and I loved the little dips back into their past, I felt it really added something extra to the story.
And finally, the plot. I had no idea where it was going, particularly as the book opens with a woman's body found on a beach, but then focused on the grief the family was facing after the loss of Ruby-Mae. We find out early on how Ruby-Mae died, but as the story develops it's evident that there are so many secrets lurking within this family and it just got more and more interesting and gripping. By the last 100 pages I was absolutely desperate to know what was going on and I couldn't put it down. Oh and what a fantastic ending, an extra little curveball to finish it all off.
This is my first book by Sanjida Kay and it won't be my last. What a talent.
July 28, 2019
I received a free copy from Readers First in exchange for an honest review.
This could equally be called Big little Lies, as thedstory unfolds we get more and more little lies that have snowballed into massive ones. I am amazed the guilt of those didn't affect people more.
We open with a body being found, but are given no more information on that until about two thirds of the way into the book. The narrative jumps back and forward between a brother and sister dealing with the aftermath of the death of a child. The death has been blamed on the father who had apparently been asked to keep an eye on her, but instead got drunk and fell asleep, which allowed the unfortunate accident to happen where the young girl drowned in a shallow pond. But things aren't as they seem, while this tragedy has split the family apart, they try to have a holiday on the one year anniversary of the death in remembrance of the lost girl. The brother invites the father, who they think is suffering from early dementia as he is getting forgetful which is why he can't remember being asked to look after the girl. The sister is angry as he wasn't invited, so things are tense from the offset. As the holiday unfolds people do try and mend things, but even older secrets begin to surface, keeping them secret for so long did not help as they thought it would at the time.
It is quite a clever ending i have to admit i didn't quite see coming, thoroughly enjoyed this book, albeit it's a bit brief - says 330 pages, but a good 30+ of those are blank in between chapters/sections. This makes it a perfect holiday read, the chapters are short enough that it's easy to dip in and out of, but you might find it unputdownable once things start picking up steam, i had to finish it on my second sitting.
This could equally be called Big little Lies, as thedstory unfolds we get more and more little lies that have snowballed into massive ones. I am amazed the guilt of those didn't affect people more.
We open with a body being found, but are given no more information on that until about two thirds of the way into the book. The narrative jumps back and forward between a brother and sister dealing with the aftermath of the death of a child. The death has been blamed on the father who had apparently been asked to keep an eye on her, but instead got drunk and fell asleep, which allowed the unfortunate accident to happen where the young girl drowned in a shallow pond. But things aren't as they seem, while this tragedy has split the family apart, they try to have a holiday on the one year anniversary of the death in remembrance of the lost girl. The brother invites the father, who they think is suffering from early dementia as he is getting forgetful which is why he can't remember being asked to look after the girl. The sister is angry as he wasn't invited, so things are tense from the offset. As the holiday unfolds people do try and mend things, but even older secrets begin to surface, keeping them secret for so long did not help as they thought it would at the time.
It is quite a clever ending i have to admit i didn't quite see coming, thoroughly enjoyed this book, albeit it's a bit brief - says 330 pages, but a good 30+ of those are blank in between chapters/sections. This makes it a perfect holiday read, the chapters are short enough that it's easy to dip in and out of, but you might find it unputdownable once things start picking up steam, i had to finish it on my second sitting.
March 3, 2020
One year later by Sanjida Kay is a suspense thriller with a twist that will take you by surprise. The book is about the complexities of our family.
Amy and Matt Jenkins lost their youngest daughter right before her 3rd birthday.
It was an unfortunate accident which tore the family apart.
There’s an unspoken distance between them. The distance is not just between them, but also between other members of the family. There’s an unseen wall around each one of them.
Nick suggests a family trip on Ruby- May’s upcoming anniversary. He plans to bring the family together. But what he doesn’t know someone in the family is lying? Someone is hiding the truth! Will, they ever know, will they come together as a family or this trip will create a deeper trench between them?
The books start slow; it develops the characters with time. Each character grows with time and you know more about them as the story progresses. There is an air of mystery that lingers around the chapters that’s what drives you to move from chapter to chapter. Nick (most of it) and Amy narrate the story from their perspective. It is unique as Nick takes charge of digging deeper into the matter instead of Amy. Amy talks mostly about her time with Ruby- May.
Nick narrates the story in present, and we see other characters through his eyes. The character list is small and easy to remember most of them. In the first half of the book, the author leaves you bread crumbs that you may or may not notice. The second half is Nick investigation and doubts that pushes the story forward. On a lighter note, Nick has few of Star war dialogues on his sleeves.
The central theme of the book is complex family relations along with lies, deceit and grief. Grief changes our equation with people around us. It also changes a part of us irreversible way.
The story shuttles between Bristol and a remote island off the coast of Italy.
The author has painted a beautiful description of the island and its surroundings.
The reader can imagine the locales or house with no effort.
Overall, one year later will release in June this year. It’s a perfect summer read. I recommend adding this book to your TBR and you won’t regret it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Corvus for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Amy and Matt Jenkins lost their youngest daughter right before her 3rd birthday.
It was an unfortunate accident which tore the family apart.
There’s an unspoken distance between them. The distance is not just between them, but also between other members of the family. There’s an unseen wall around each one of them.
Nick suggests a family trip on Ruby- May’s upcoming anniversary. He plans to bring the family together. But what he doesn’t know someone in the family is lying? Someone is hiding the truth! Will, they ever know, will they come together as a family or this trip will create a deeper trench between them?
The books start slow; it develops the characters with time. Each character grows with time and you know more about them as the story progresses. There is an air of mystery that lingers around the chapters that’s what drives you to move from chapter to chapter. Nick (most of it) and Amy narrate the story from their perspective. It is unique as Nick takes charge of digging deeper into the matter instead of Amy. Amy talks mostly about her time with Ruby- May.
Nick narrates the story in present, and we see other characters through his eyes. The character list is small and easy to remember most of them. In the first half of the book, the author leaves you bread crumbs that you may or may not notice. The second half is Nick investigation and doubts that pushes the story forward. On a lighter note, Nick has few of Star war dialogues on his sleeves.
The central theme of the book is complex family relations along with lies, deceit and grief. Grief changes our equation with people around us. It also changes a part of us irreversible way.
The story shuttles between Bristol and a remote island off the coast of Italy.
The author has painted a beautiful description of the island and its surroundings.
The reader can imagine the locales or house with no effort.
Overall, one year later will release in June this year. It’s a perfect summer read. I recommend adding this book to your TBR and you won’t regret it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Corvus for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 12, 2020
One year after the tragic drowning of 3 year old Ruby-May,a family of 4 and various siblings decide to get away from England and spend the anniversary on a beautiful Italian island.There is a mystery element to the story too as is who was really responsible for the little girls death?I noticed there is a lot of very positive reviews for this book,so I feel a bit reticence about my less than glowing review.This is the first book of Sanjida Kay I have read and to be honest I found her style of writing not to my liking.The story is told alternately by Amy the grieving Mother and then Nick her brother.The chapters by Nick are told in first person and Amy's chapters in third?This made no sense to me and I found it very disjointed.The other problem with me was that the characters were so unlikable and unsympathetic.The gist of the story is about a family trying to reconnect on the anniversary of little Ruby Mays death.To be honest though none of them seem to like each other at all.They say some truly hateful and wounding things to each other and then the next minute act as though nothing has happened?The only character I did like was Luca the au pare.I would have liked some more insight into Matt,the husbands character.We have very little idea how he has been affected by it all,seems to be all about Amy's suffering. I did enjoy the setting on a remote Italian island.It sounded so idyllic and the story does have a neat and unexpected twist in the end, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
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